Sale price
$1498
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2003
Just a Minute
By Yuyi Morales
Señor Calavera comes for Grandma Beetle, but she has nine party jobs to finish before she can possibly leave.
$15.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Día de los Muertos Books for Kids
The Best Día de los Muertos Books for Kids
By the Bookroo EditorsUpdated August 7, 2026
Marigold petals lead the way, candles glow beside family photographs, favorite foods return to the table, and even the skeletons have come dressed to dance. Día de los Muertos treats remembering as something children can do with their hands: build an ofrenda, cut bright papel picado, tell a story about Grandma, or carry a paper flower to the cemetery. It may share skeletons with Halloween, but it has a different job—to welcome the memory of people who have died with affection, humor, and a very good meal.
Bookroo’s collection of Día de los Muertos books includes simple first explanations, bilingual read-alouds, family stories about missing someone, the history of Mexico’s calavera art, and mysteries for children ready to read on their own. Start with our fixed shortlist of 13 favorites, then browse the board-book, picture-book, and chapter-book shelves by age.
The Shortlist
Our 13 Favorite Day of the Dead Books
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 6–10 · 2015
Funny Bones
Meet José Guadalupe Posada, the Mexican artist whose lively skeleton prints made calaveras famous.
The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (2015)Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (2016)Americas Honor (2016)Orbis Pictus Honor (2016)
40 pages· 1,877 words· Est. 15 min read-aloud
Best for
Art-loving kids who ask where the skeletons came from4.1 Goodreads · 2,434 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2015
Día de los Muertos
By Roseanne Greenfield Thong, Carles Ballesteros (Illustrator)
A town prepares its altars, food, flowers, music, and graves for two bright nights of remembrance.
32 pages· 384 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud
Best for
A lively first explanation for preschool and early elementary$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2024
The Ofrenda That We Built
One family adds photographs, candles, food, flowers, and keepsakes to the ofrenda they build together.
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024
Abuelita's Gift
By Mariana Ríos Ramírez, Sara Palacios (Illustrator)
Julieta wants the perfect gift for Abuelita’s spirit, but every idea seems to go wrong.
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 2–6 · 2008
Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead
By Judy Goldman, Rene King Moreno (Illustrator)
Lupita waits for the monarch butterflies to return, though this year her beloved uncle will not be beside her.
32 pages· 1,249 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
Best for
Talking about a recent family death$16.95Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2020
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost
By Flavia Z. Drago · Book #1 in the The World of Gustavo series
A shy ghost who loves the violin plans a Día de Muertos concert because speaking to the other monsters feels impossible.
34 pages· 381 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud
Best for
Children who want a story more than an explanation$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1398
Picture Book · Ages 6–10 · 2010
Rosita y Conchita
By Erich Haeger, Eric Gonzalez (Author/Illustrator)
Conchita builds an altar for her twin sister Rosita, whose spirit is trying to find the path home.
40 pages· 1,500 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud
Best for
A bilingual story centered on sisterly love$14.99Save 7%
Hardcover
Sale price
$759
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 1997
Day of the Dead
By Tony Johnston, Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)
A family cooks, decorates, and walks to the graveyard to welcome the spirits of people they love.
48 pages
Best for
A straightforward traditional celebration$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Sale price
$858
Board Book · Ages 2–4 · 2018
Día de los Muertos
A small board book introduces papel picado, pan de muerto, marigolds, music, and remembering loved ones.
$8.99Save 5%
Board book
Sale price
$759
Board Book · Ages 2–5 · 2010
The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos
By Bob Barner
Two children scatter marigold petals, prepare offerings, and welcome their ancestors in English and Spanish.
$7.99Save 5%
Board Book
Sale price
$958
Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2012
Un Barrilete / A Kite for the Day of the Dead
By Elisa Amado
A boy must finish the enormous kite he once built with his grandfather for Guatemala’s Day of the Dead.
$9.95Save 4%
Paperback
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016
Lou Lou and Pea and the Mural Mystery
Two best friends follow clues hidden in neighborhood murals as the Día de los Muertos procession approaches.
272 pages· 39,904 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
Best for
Independent readers ready for a full mystery4.1 Goodreads · 144 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Browse by age
Día de los Muertos Board Books for Babies & Toddlers
First words for marigolds, music, sugar skulls, and family remembrance, on sturdy pages for ages 1–5.
Sale price
$999
Celebrate the Day of the Dead!
Ages 2–4 · 2023
Join a family as they celebrate Día de los Muertos, honoring loved ones with vibrant traditions.
Sale price
$799
Día de Los Muertos
Ages 1–4 · 2022
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with dancing, counting, and playful puppets.
Sale price
$599
Coco
Ages 2–5 · 2017
A boy defies a family ban on music, uncovering secrets in the Land of the Dead.
Browse by age
Día de los Muertos Picture Books
Ofrendas, cemetery visits, family stories, playful calaveras, and clear explanations of the holiday, for ages 3–8.
Sale price
$899
The Dead Family Diaz
Ages 4–6 · 2012
A skeleton boy fears the living until a surprising friendship changes everything.
Sale price
$799
Calavera Abecedario
Ages 4–7 · 2004
Discover the vibrant world of calaveras, where each letter of the alphabet comes to life.
Sale price
$1799
Our Day of the Dead Celebration
Ages 3–7 · 2022
A family celebrates the Day of the Dead, bridging past and present with stories and traditions.
Sale price
$1495
The Festival of Bones
Ages 4–7 · 2002
Join the skeletons' lively dance in a vibrant Day of the Dead celebration.
Sale price
$895
Clatter Bash!
Ages 4–8 · 2004
Skeletons rise to celebrate Day of the Dead with music and dance.
Sale price
$1999
This Moment Is Special
Ages 4–8
A boy finds meaning in every moment as he prepares for Día de Muertos.
Sale price
$3136
Day of the Dead
Ages 0–7 · 2014
Discover the vibrant traditions of Dia de los Muertos.
Sale price
$599
Miguel's Music (Disney/Pixar Coco)
Ages 4–6 · 2017
A boy defies a family ban on music, uncovering secrets in the Land of the Dead.
Sale price
$2532
Daniela's Day of the Dead
Ages 4–8 · 2012
A girl honors her late grandpa on the Day of the Dead.
Sale price
$950
Catrina's Day of the Dead
Ages 4–7 · 2015
Experience the magic of El Día de los Muertos with Catrina.
Sale price
$699
The Spirit of Tío Fernando
Ages 4–8 · 1995
On Day of the Dead, Nando seeks a spirit's presence at the cemetery.
Sale price
$1595
A Gift for Abuelita
Ages 5–8 · 2004
Explore the mysteries of the Day of the Dead.
Browse by age
Day of the Dead Chapter Books & Mysteries
Neighborhood mysteries and longer adventures set during Día de los Muertos, for readers ages 7–12.
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1299
Ghosts
Ages 9–12 · 2016
A girl faces her fear of ghosts to help her sick sister.
Sale price
$699
Lola's First Day of the Dead
Ages 6–8 · 2023
Lola faces her food fears at a Day of the Dead celebration.
Sale price
$699
The Day of the Dead Mystery
Ages 7–10 · 2018
Mysterious events threaten a Dia de los Muertos celebration. Can the kids save the day?
Sale price
$1299
Coco: The Essential Guide
Ages 5–8 · 2017
A boy's quest in the Land of the Dead reveals family secrets.
Keep exploring
Books about MexicoBooks about holidaysBooks about family traditionsBooks about ancestorsMemory and remembranceBooks about grandparentsBooks about festivalsBooks about skeletonsBooks about ghostsBooks about artBooks about kitesBooks about butterfliesBooks about counting and numbersGrief and remembranceBooks about Halloween